Lens Recommendations for Amboseli

Amboseli is a photographers paradise and the range of lenses I would recommend when travelling here are about as diverse as the photographic opportunities and region itself.

Nonetheless, knowing what to expect and what types of photographic opportunities are on offer will always help you make an informed decision with regards to the gear that you will want to have with you!

Wide Angle (24 -70mm)

The weather is constantly changing and there are almost always some form of dramatic clouds moving across the open plains and around Mount Kilimanjaro. Wide angle lenses such as the 24-70mm paired with graduated ND filters will help you make the most of these iconic Amboseli scenes.

The dry lake bed of lake Amboseli adds a sense of space like no-other in the region and one can get fairly close to the herds of elephant that regularly cross this dry, dusty expanse as they make their way to the waterlogged swamps.

The elephant herds in Amboseli are quite accustomed to the presence of vehicles and will often feed right next to the road, affording you with great opportunities to use your wide angle lenses.

Medium Zoom Lens (70-200mm)

This is probably one of the most versatile lenses a wildlife photographer could ask for and is particularly handy in Amboseli when the subjects may be a little further away or where you are wanting to take advantage of the shallower depth of field and compression offered by lenses with a bit more focal length.

Scenes with Mount Kilimanjaro in the background require a bit more focal length to capture properly that one may think. The compression factor offered by lenses with a bit more focal length ensures that the mountain doesn’t disappear completely as it would with a wide angle lens.

Telephoto Lens (200mm to 400mm Range)

A lens with a maximum focal length of 400mm is essential to capture opportunities which may take a place a bit further away from the roadside without having to worry about cropping the image too much.

Amboseli is an ideal destination for including more sky and background at these sorts of focal lengths as the blue backdrop of the foot-slopes of mount Kilimanjaro fills the frame and eliminates any bright highlights so often provided by the sky in these sorts of scenes.

400mm will also allow you deconstrcut scenes which may be closer to the road and focus on shooting slightly more abstract compositions whilst focal lengths of 400mm plus will really allow you to push your creativity to the limit in almost every situation.

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About the Author

Andrew Beck

Very few people can tell you what their passion in life is. Even fewer will be able to tell you that what they do for a living is in fact their passion. My love for the bush and conservation took me on journey which would not only allow me to explore the continent which fascinates me so much, but to share my passion for photography and conservation with others.
Be sure to check out my my website and instagram account.

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